Editorial

Protecting our own

A recent Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) survey indicates that at least 8 percent, or 13,000 Oregon high school students, carried some sort of weapon to school at least once during the 1998-99 school year.

Of that number, the survey showed at least 1,300 high school students carried a gun to school. The first thing we must ask ourselves as parents is this: "Where are they getting the guns?"

This 1999 youth risk survey is called "A Potential for Violent Injury: Guns and Knives in the Schools."

While shocking, the survey shows what we should have already known - that carrying weapons to school and elsewhere is common, and that violence is not only expected, but accepted.

It's really frightening for us to learn that carrying a gun, knife or club is a part of life for a surprising number of youths. With weapons so readily available, arguments are more likely to become violent confrontations that lead to serious injury or death.

The young people carrying these weapons aren't the only ones at risk of injury. What about all the young people who aren't carrying weapons? What are they supposed to do if they wind up in an argument with a weapon-wielding youth?

You can count on this: The chances are good that an unarmed youth is going to come out on the short end of things during a violent confrontation.

To protect themselves, do these young people also have to carry concealed weapons? Or is there something else we as parents can do to end this chain of violence?

Look at what else the survey shows:

Gun carrying is strongly associated with many risky behaviors, such as fighting, substance abuse, physical and sexual abuse by adults, and harassment at school.

If your child exhibits any of these traits, you will want to address them.

You'll probably hear from the schools about the fighting, and you may even learn of the harassment. But assuming you aren't party to the following, you may not know whether your child is involved in substance abuse or is being physically or sexually abused by adults.

Don't assume your child will tell you if something bad is happening. They may feel guilty or be afraid to admit they're having problems, and they may believe they can deal with things by themselves.

It is imperative that parents make themselves regularly available to their children - even if both parents are working outside the home, and even if they're raising children alone.

We must watch out for our kids because no one else can do it for us. We must watch out for our kids because no one else can do it as well as we can.

If you don't believe you are a major factor in the lives of your kids, listen to what else is in the DHS report:

Students without an adult to turn to were almost twice as likely to take weapons to school as were those with two or more supportive adults.

Then there is this: Students who had been purposely hit, slapped or physically hurt by an adult family member were twice as likely to take a weapon to school as students who had not be abused.

Students who experienced harassment due to race, gender and sexual orientation were 36 times more likely to carry a gun to school.

Students who abused five or more substances were 39 times more likely than non-abusers to carry a gun at school.

Students who said they were involved in six or more fights at school were 86 times more likely to have a gun at school.

Factors within the family, school and community all play a part in how our children grow up. As parents, our job is to see that we know what's happening to our kids in each of these areas.

That's a big job, especially for working parents. But if we don't watch out for our kids, who will?

Letters to the editor

School district voters
were hoodwinked

Well, I see the voters for the Canby School District budget were hoodwinked again.

Prior to the election, there was all this crying that they had to repair badly leaking roofs on several school buildings and repair the heating systems they said badly needed repairs.

Reading the list of expenditures in this week's paper, I see the budget now calls for nothing toward these urgent repairs.

I voted for this asked-for school budget, based on their plea that the school infrastructure was in drastic need of repair. I wonder how many other voters felt they were lied to.
Anson S. Chaney
Canby

Citizens, businesses
rallied around festival

On behalf of the General Canby Day Fund-raising Committee, I would like to recognize the many individuals and business owners here in Canby who contributed to the General Canby Day celebration held July 4.

As you might imagine, the activities and events that take place during this annual event require a great deal of effort to organize, and many volunteers contribute their time to make it all happen.

But there are considerable expenses associated with a community like this as well, costs that are covered primarily through the generous donations of many whose names and commitment to Canby are well known.

I would like to specifically thank the following businesses and individuals who made cash donations and/or contributed goods/services to the 2000 General Canby Day celebration:

First Student Transportation (formerly Ryder Transportation; Fultano's Pizza; Copy Rite's Graphix Plus; Econolodge Canby; Madeira-Oliver Insurance; Millar's Hiway Tire Factory; George C. Douglass, CPA; Canby Medical Clinic; Godfather's Pizza; the Canby Herald; Canby Builder's Supply; Canby Kiwanis; Potters Industries, Shimadzu USA; State Farm Insurance; Cutsforth's Thriftway; Canby Telephone Co.; Puerto Vallarta Inc.; Gustafson's Insurance; Dr. and Mrs. Richard Sale; Canby Ford; Dr. Steve Hagler; Hulbert's Flowers; Ernie Graham Oil; Sons of American Legion 122; Canby Rotary Foundation; Reif, Reif &Thalhofer; Barlow Mini Storage; Canby Area Chamber of Commerce; City of Canby; Canby High School graphics department; Larry's Quick Stop Photo; Parsons Canby Pharmacy, Team Van Gordon Auctioneers, Canby Ford, Top-O-Hill Restaurant, Cottage Kitchen, and Mackay, Kuenzi, Wilcox and Co.

Your contributions have made July 4 another memorable holiday for the Canby community. We thank you for your support.
Deborah Sommer, chair
General Canby Day Fund-raising Committee

Thanks for backing
school district bond

On June 29, 2000, the Canby School District Board of Directors formally adopted the district budget for 2000-2001, including the addition of $30.8 million resulting from the passage of our recent school bond.

We also formally accepted the results of the bond election from the County Elections Office as required by law. Now that the bond is "official," I would like to thank both the community of Canby, the members of the school board steering committee, district staff; and the many individuals who donated their time to helping the school district pass this important measure.

The community members of the Bond Steering Committee deserve particular thanks: Roger Reif, chairperson; Wayne Scott, vice-chairman; Marty McCullough, treasurer; Gay Kuykendall, secretary; Thelma Hooper, Barbara Kirwan and Paul Bizon. The fact that the bond campaign was successful was due in no small part to their hundreds of hours of work on behalf of the Canby School District.

Also, on behalf of the School Board, I want you, the voters, to know how committed we are to keeping you informed and updated on the progress being made on each of our facilities.

As you may know, a detailed 5-year plan will be developed once a project manager is on board this summer.

In the meantime, we are hard at work on various roofs and upgrading playground equipment and about to embark on replacing the siding at Carus.

There is much to do, of course, but it is important to the board that we do a good job of overseeing all projects and making sure that our community is well-informed throughout this effort. Again, thank you Canby.
Sandy Ricksger, chair
Canby School District Board

2000 celebration was
something special

The General Canby Day Committee wants to thank each and every one of you who helped us celebrate the Fourth of July.

Whether you are one of the thousands of people who attended, or one of the hundreds of citizens who contributed funds and/or time, this fun event could not have happened without you.

Canby has a lot to be proud of, and it shows. Every year there are always people and groups on the sidelines who do their jobs so well that no one notices them, but without them the event would not be what it is today.

I would like to take this opportunity to recognize a few of the individuals who helped make this a special occasion. If I forget to mention anyone, I apologize for the omission: Mayor Scott Taylor and the Canby City Council for their ongoing support; the entire staff of the city, with special thanks to Marti Moretty; Jeff Snyder and Roy Hester; Brian Howarth and the rest of the Canby police and fire departments; the school district and David Doty, John Turley and Dennis Colvin; the Community School and Carol Meeuwsen; First Student Transportation; AT&T Wireless; Ad Specialty of Oregon; Team Van Gordon; Canby Utility; Canby Adult Center; Signs by Jan; and Canby Trophy &Screenprint.

Our wonderful fireworks display is provided by Western Fireworks Inc., and Canby Ford came to our rescue at the last minute and provided the cars for our City Council to use in the parade.

Flowers for the coronation were provided by Hulbert's Flowers and for Wait Park by Postlewait Greenhouses, Sunrise Nursery and Hoffman's Dairy Garden. Awards for the collector cars were made possible by Cutsforth's Thriftway, Weygandt Auto Parts, Millar's Hiway Tire Factory, Fred Meyer and Jim Estes Garage in Oregon City.

Congratulations go to Bob Cryder for his exceptional Collector Car Show; Kathleen Heynderickx and the Canby Historical Society for the wonderful breakfast; Jan Etzel, Gordon Rasted and the Canby Art Association for an outstanding show; and Carmen Kirk and Coldwell Banker Barbara Sue Seal Properties for a fun parade.

Thanks to Jonathan Miller, Don Feely and Irene Breashers, who served as masters of ceremonies; Cub Scout Troop 505; Canby American Legion 122 and Canby Aurora VFW 6057 color guards.

Our entertainment, Whiskey Hill Jazz Band, Clackamas Community Band and Island Jammin' did a super job, and a big "thank you" to all the vendors and merchants who set up booths and took part in the event.

This year we were able to display a collection of photos of all the past royalty and the buttons from each event. This was made possible through the donation of buttons from Leta Belleque-Bunnell and the photo display by Postal Annex.

Lastly, I would like to thank the committee members and their families for bringing all this together and putting on a great day. The General Canby Day Committee members are Don and Heidi Feely, Donna Borges, Jim Mickelsen, Jan Montecucco, Dario Hernandez, Carol Horn, Gay Kuykendall, Carmen Kirk, John Zieg, Nancy Murphy, Deborah Sommer, Irene Breashers, Dick and Diane Brown and our helpers, Dan Wilcox, Joyce Trussell and Judy Grauski.

If you enjoyed General Canby Day and want to be a part of the committee, please contact any of the above committee members.

We would like to hear from you. See you next year!
Judy Wilcox, chairperson
General Canby Day

Chosin Few enjoyed
Canby parade appearance

I want to tell you how much we liked being in your Fourth of July parade. All the fellows were talking about how so many along the parade route were saying, "Thank you," or "You don't have to walk now."

It personally made me swell with pride. I know it made us all feel kind of special. Yes, in North Korea we did walk in 35- to 40-degree-below-zero temperatures.

We have built a memorial in a beautiful part of Willamette National Cemetery in Portland for those who did not make it home.

Again, the parade was super. Hopefully we can make it again. My best to the many sponsors of the parade.
Bill Chisholm, president
Oregon Chapter of the Chosin Few

PTA events added
to day's festivities

So many kids had fun at the PTA putt-putt golf corner (and fishing pond) on July 4, during General Canby Day. Under shifty skies it all came out wonderful.

PTAs from the six Canby School District schools have $179 to divide - a new high.

A lot of work and help went into it. The putt-putt golf set is owned by the six PTAs jointly.

Supposedly, each school can use it at their carnival night, but finding storage space for it has caused problems. Barlow Mini Storage at 99E and Barlow Road has generously donated one of their storage rooms.

Rasmussen Paint, a personal friend's century company, (they make good paint, what can you say?) donated a truck to haul out the putt-putt and haul it back. Thank you, Chris Rasmussen.

Bullwinkle's Family Fun Center in Wilsonville donated enough putters for the day. Somewhere in shifting around the PTA's set, our own bucket of putters came up missing (in case you see it). Thank you, Bullwinkle's.

Thank you Karen Osterberg, Janet Dodge and Andrea Fowler, new Carus PTA officers and Sue Hohensee, next year's president of Ninety-One School PTA. Their kids loved sharing their booth duty.

Thank you Jeff Becker and Clarice LeTourneau-Fee, lumpers. And my kids, Chelsea and Steven, lumpers-in-training.

This ends my two years serving as the Clackamas Council vice president for the Canby district. The council shares ideas and resources among 48 Clackamas County school PTA organizations.

The incoming Canby VP is Janet Shabanian, who has shared her talents and energy at Carus for years.

I wasn't very active at generating relationships and interactions between Canby schools, which is what the job is.

But, we do see a district spirit exists, in the commitment of the new superintendent Deborah Sommer, and in the successful campaign for the school's $32 million boost bond.
Thank you, Canby.
Ed Kammerer
Canby Schools PTA